Okaloosa airport plans upgrades

VALPARAISO, Fla. - An upcoming project at Northwest Florida Regional Airport will improve the electrical system, security and parking. Construction is expected to begin in November on a number of improvements, including a realignment of the road leading to the airport’s terminal. A pre-bid meeting for construction companies to get more details about the project is scheduled for Tuesday. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/11/09)

Contract: Lockheed, $262.5M

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., was awarded a $262,500,000 contract for the long lead parts and material procurement for the 4th Space Based Infrared Systems Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Satellite and the 4th Highly Elliptical Orbit Payload. Space Based Infrared Systems Wing, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/10/09) Gulf Coast note: Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space and Technology Center, Stennis Space Center, Miss., builds subsystems for SBIRS.

First of JSF leadership now at Eglin

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The future 33rd Operations Group deputy commander is now at Eglin Air Force Base preparing for his role at the Joint Strike Fighter Training Center. Navy Capt. Mike Saunders arrived at Eglin a few weeks ago and is working with the F-35 Joint Site Activation Task Force and shadowing current operations at the 33rd Fighter Wing. He’s the first senior staff member of the future F-35 wing. Saunders background includes leading the Navy Fighter Weapons School and Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. Air Force Col. James Ravella, future group commander, arrives next month. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 07/08/09)

Contract: Sauer, $7M

Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded $7,021,100 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract for the design and construction to renovate three facilities at Stennis Space Center, Miss. It includes work on building 3205 and a new buoy blast & paint facility for the National Data Buoy Center. Work is expected to be completed by January 2011. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/09/09)

Paris: Mississippi, partners make splash

The recent Paris Air Show let aerospace companies show off their products to military and commercial buyers. But it also let South Mississippi and its partners Alabama and Florida strut their stuff on a world stage, make contacts and build relationships they hope will pay off down the road. (Source: Alliance Insight, 07/08/09) (PDF) (Story)

Inouye: Split tanker buy too costly

The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee now opposes directing the Pentagon to buy tankers from both Boeing and Northrop Grumman. Sen. Daniel Inouye said in an interview today that his view has evolved since last month when he hadn’t ruled it out and said he needed more data from the Pentagon. Now he said it may be “much more expensive,” but he provided no figures. (Source: Bloomberg, 07/09/09)

Boom does night test

The EADS advanced aerial refueling boom system, featured on Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 offering for the U.S. Air Force, demonstrated nighttime operational capabilities during a multi-contact mission with an F-16 fighter aircraft. The boom’s system features laser infrared lighting and high-definition digital stereoscopic viewing. The boom was installed on EADS’ A310 test bed, and involved a Portuguese F-16AM. (Source: EADS, 07/08/09) Gulf Coast note: EADS and partner Northrop Grumman plan to establish a tanker assembly plant in Mobile, Ala., if they win the Air Force tanker contest against Boeing.

Boeing buying Vought S.C. plant

Boeing has agreed to acquire for some $580 million the business and operations of Vought Aircraft Industries at its South Carolina facility. The Vought facility in North Charleston does fabrication and assembly of structures and systems installation of 787 aft fuselage sections, made primarily of composite materials. Boeing will acquire the assets and inventory and assume operation of the site. This transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter. Once acquired, the North Charleston facility will be managed by the 787 program. Vought will continue its work on many Boeing programs, including other components of the 787, as well as structures and components on the 737, 747, 767, 777, C-17 and V-22 through operations located elsewhere. (Source: PRNewswire, 07/07/09)

Jacobs takes over Michoud

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has been certified by NASA ready to assume operational management of the Michoud Assembly Facility. Jacobs was awarded the manufacturing support and facility operations contract May 1, and officially took over from Lockheed Martin July 1. It will employ about 450 workers. Jacobs president and CEO Craig Martin said Michoud will be central to the success of human missions to the moon and Mars. Michoud, manufacturer of Space Shuttle external tanks, has been selected as the site to manufacture several major components for the Constellation Program. (Source: PRNewswire, 07/07/09)

Opinion: Solving two aero dilemmas

A Bloomberg news columnist in Paris has an interesting way to resolve two problems faced by the aerospace industry. Airbus should drop its troubled A400 troop transport so European nations can buy proven transports from the United States. And in return, the United States should buy the already flying Airbus A330 aerial tanker. It would help aerospace companies on both continents, who in the future will face challenges from China’s and India’s aerospace industries. (Source: Bloomberg, New York Times, 07/07/09)

Ares I moves forward

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Though the fate of Ares I is uncertain pending a review by a special panel, the new crew launch vehicle is moving from the computer-aided design workstations to various fabrication facilities. To hold down costs, NASA is developing Ares I in-house before farming out production to industry. Experts in friction stir-welding have produced their first tank dome using the same robotic tool that Boeing will use in upper stage production at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Development of the J-2X, which will power the Ares I upper stage and the earth departure stage, is moving along. Power-pack trials were done at Stennis Space Center, and the A2 test stand will be modified for the J-2X after the last space shuttle main engine test in September. (Source: Aviation Week, 07/05/09)

Restored Electra unveiled

PENSACOLA, Fla. - A restored Lockheed Electra, the type of plane Amelia Earhart was flying when she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean, was unveiled Thursday at the National Naval Aviation Museum. July 2 was the 72nd anniversary of Earhart's disappearance during an attempt to circle the globe. The musem's Electra is painted in Navy colors with dark blue wings, but is otherwise outfitted the same as Earhart's plane. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 07/03/09)

Justice joins suit against SAIC

The Justice Department has joined a whistleblower lawsuit over a $3.2 billion contract to provide support services at Stennis Space Center, Miss. The suit claims Science Applications International Corp. conspired with federal officials to rig the technology contract awarded in 2004. The suit claims three former or current federal employees conspired to steer a computer project to SAIC. A company started by one of those former employees had teamed up with SAIC to bid on the contract. The suit was filed by whistleblower David McGee, a former employee at the center. (Sources: Multiple, including Washington Post, Reuters, 07/03/09)

Boeing 2nd assembly line the buzz

Boeing may buy supplier Vought Aircraft Industries’ plant in North Charleston, S.C., and establish a second 787 assembly plant there. The plant makes fuselage sections for the 787, but the purchase would put more of the 787 program directly under Boeing’s control. Analysts say it would make sense as a way to cope with the backlog of orders for the program, which is two years behind schedule. Washington state wants to keep a second line in Puget Sound, but South Carolina is a right to work state and was in the running in 2003 when Boeing was looking to build the 787 outside of Washington. (Sources: Multiple, including Charlotte Business Journal, Dallas News, Seattle Times, 07/02/09) Gulf Coast note: Mobile, Ala., and Hancock County, Miss., were both among the finalists for the 787 plant in 2003.

Contract: Lockheed, $441.9M

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a $441,938,182 modification to definitize the previously awarded Joint Strike Fighter Air System low rate initial production Lot III advance acquisition contract to a cost-plus-incentive-fee/award-fee contract. This modification provides for common and unique performance based logistics support and hardware for the sustainment of seven U.S. Air Force and one Government of the Netherlands conventional take-off and landing aircraft; seven U.S. Marine Corps and two United Kingdom short take-off vertical-landing aircraft; material necessary to support activation of JSF bases; and associated systems. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/02/09) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is slated to become the JSF Training Center.

City eyes annexing part of Hurlburt

MARY ESTHER, Fla. – A proposal to annex a 3-mile stretch of Hurlburt Field is designed to make his city larger and increase state revenue-sharing dollars. The annexation would add 2,000 residents who live in base housing and barracks on the land. The city would not assume any new services or maintenance duties, but residents of the annexed area would be able to vote in local elections and run for office. Mary Esther's population is about 4,500 now. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/01/09)

Hurricane Hunters prep for missions

ST. CROIX, U.S.V.I. - Members of the Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron deployed to their detachment here to fly training missions over the Caribbean in preparation for the 2009 hurricane season. Unit Airmen are part of the 403rd Wing located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and are the only Department of Defense unit flying into tropical storms and hurricanes collecting critical data. During the next months until Nov. 30, the Hurricane Hunters will be honing their skills in special WC-130J Hercules aircraft. (Source: AFNS, 07/02/09)

Gulfport adds Dallas flight

GULFPORT, Miss. - Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is adding a fourth daily flight to Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. The expanded service starts Aug. 25 on American Airlines/American Eagle. The additional flights will leave Gulfport at 10:55 a.m. daily and leave Dallas for the Coast at 11:10 a.m. (Source: Sun Herald, 07/01/09)

Keesler's wins, losses

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – Keesler will see a decrease of 31 military positions and an increase of 15 civilian positions as a result of the Air Force's proposed force structure realignment for fiscal 2010. The 81st Training Wing will have an increase of 14 civilian positions, while the 85th Engineering Installation Squadron and the 19th Operational Group Detachment 6 each will get an additional position. The 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron's aeromedical staging flight will see a decrease of 31 military positions due to mission transfer earlier this year. Other miscellaneous actions resulted in a decrease of one civilian position. (Source: AFNS, 07/01/09)

Boeing picks ATK for motors

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Boeing chose Alliant Techsystems to make the upper stage ullage motors for the Ares I launch vehicle. The Ares I is NASA's two-stage rocket that will launch astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on missions to the International Space Station, the moon and beyond. The ullage motor is similar to the Space Shuttle booster separation motor. (Source: ATK, 07/01/09) Gulf Coast note: Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and Stennis Space Center, Miss., are both involved in the Constellation Program; Boeing has an operation at Michoud and ATK an office in Northwest Florida.